Air France lets certain pets travel with you in the cabin, as checked baggage in the hold, or as air cargo.
If you want to take your pet with you when you travel, there are some things you need to do.
- Make your pet’s reservation at least 48 hours before your trip.
- Make sure that all the necessary health papers and paperwork are in order. In case you have to change flight you must know the guidelines of air france flight change policy.
Air France Pet Policy- In Cabin
According to Air France’s policy, small dogs and cats can fly in the passenger area with an adult passenger.
- You can bring your pets. You can only bring dogs and cats with you in the passenger cabin.
- Pet Age
- For flights within France (including Corsica) and between mainland France and Guadeloupe, Reunion Island, and Martinique, your pet must be at least 8 weeks old.
- To travel between metropolitan France and French Guiana by flight, your baby must be at least 15 weeks old.
- Your pet must be at least 10 weeks old for the upcoming flight.
- Pet Reservation
- You need to let Air France know that you will be traveling with a pet.
- You cannot book a reservation for your pet through a website.
- Air France Check-in
- You need to go to the passenger counter to check-in.
- You need to pay the fee when you check-in.
- You cannot bring your pets to the airport curbside or use the self-service kiosk to check them in.
- Pet Cost
- Pet Carrier:
- The most you and your pet can weigh together is 17lb/8kg.
- Maximum dimensions: 46 x 28 x 24cm (18 x 11 x 9in)
- Air France suggests bags that can bend.
- Must have enough space for your pet to stand up and turn around and have enough ventilation.
- Must have a bottom that is waterproof.
- Has to fit under your front seat.
- You can only bring one pet or container.
- There can only be one pet per person.
- It will be treated as an extra piece of carry-on luggage and will cost extra at check-in.
- You can’t bring animal boxes into the house.
- Restrictions and Requirements
- On international trips, dogs and cats will not be allowed in the Business Class cabin, but they will be allowed as checked luggage in the hold.
- If your pet is going within the European Union:
- Must have shots and a microchip.
- Must have an EU pet passport or its equal.
- Before traveling, the following short-nosed breeds need a vet’s okay:
- Cats. Exotic Shorthair, Burmese, Persian, and Himalayan.
- Dogs. Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Boston Terrier, Shar Pei, Shih Tzu, Small Brabant, Lhasa Apso, Mastiffs (all breeds), Brussels Griffon, and certain breeds of Spaniel (Tibetan, Japanese.
- Service Dogs
- You can travel in the passenger cabin for free.
- Assistance dogs are allowed to travel in the passenger cabin without any weight limit.
- You need to give at least 48 hours notice for both types of dogs.
- If you’re traveling with your pet on a flight that’s more than 8 hours long, you need to take care of their hygiene.
- You can only bring emotional support dogs on flights to or from the United States.
- To get all the information, look for the part called Air France Pet Policy for Assistance Dogs.
Air France Pet Policy – Checked Baggage
Air France allows big dogs and cats weighing between 17-165lb to travel in the hold of the plane. The temperature and pressure in the hold are the same as in the passenger cabin.
- You can bring your pets. You can only bring dogs and cats in the airplane’s storage area as checked air france baggage policy.
- Pet Age:
- If you are traveling within France (including Corsica) or between metropolitan France and Guadeloupe, Reunion Island, and Martinique, your baby must be at least 8 weeks old.
- If you are traveling between metropolitan France and French Guiana, your baby must be at least 15 weeks old.
- Your pet must be at least 10 weeks old for any future flights.
- Pet Reservation:
- Let Air France know ahead of time.
- Your pet cannot be booked online.
- Pet Forms
- You need to get a paper from a vet who is allowed to practice, saying your pet is healthy. The paper should be dated no more than 10 days before you travel.
- You need to complete this form when you arrive at the airport.
- If you have a dog that looks like a Category 1 or 2 dog (check the table below), you need to have a certificate from a vet when you travel.
- If you’re traveling within the European Union, your pet:
- You need to have received a vaccine and have a microchip implanted.
- You need a pet passport from the EU or a similar document.
- Check-In
- Go to the check-in counter.
- At least three hours before international planes leave.
- At least two and a half hours before a trip leaving France or Europe, including flights between Europe and Israel or North Africa.
- Go to the check-in counter.
- Connecting Flights
- Keep at least two hours between flights so you have time to get your pet and your bags and check them in for the next flight.
- Your pet can only be checked in for the first part of the trip.
- Keep all the papers needed by the country where your connecting flight is, because you will have to go through security and immigration checks before you can board your next flight.
- During the trip, the captain of the plane will make sure that your pet is comfy by checking the lighting, heating, etc. in the hold.
- Pet Cost
- Restrictions and Req.
- Pets per Passenger
- Each person can bring up to three animals in the hold, but on some planes, this number is smaller.
- Limits on temperature. If the temperature in any place on the route is less than 10°F (-12°C) or more than 85°F (29°C), pets cannot be checked as luggage.
- Bread Restrictions
- The following short-nosed animals can’t ride in the hold because it’s bad for their health:
- Cats. Burmese and Persian cats.
- Dogs. Boxers, pugs, bulldogs, and Shih Tzu dogs.
- Cats and dogs in categories 1 and 2 cannot be put on the hold of an airplane as checked luggage.
- The following short-nosed animals can’t ride in the hold because it’s bad for their health:
Category 1 | Category 2 |
So-called attack dogs that look like the following types are not allowed in the cabin, as checked bags, or as cargo: American Staffordshire Terriers, also known as pit bulls, Mastiffs Tosas Staffordshire Terriers | Only cargo planes are allowed for the following dog breeds: Staffordshire Terriers with paper trailAmerican Staffordshire Terriers with papersPedigree Tosas The way they look is the same as Rottweilers. |
- Pet Carrier Requirements
- It should be approved by IATA and made of either fiberglass or hard plastic.
- The wheels need to be either folded up, taped down tightly, or taken off.
- The door lock needs to lock both at the top and bottom of the door.
- The door hinges need to stick out (by 1.6cm/5/8in) more than the horizontal parts above and below the door (b).
- You need to use bolts to attach the two halves of the container together. You cannot use any other types of lateral closing mechanisms. You can use different types of locks with bolts (c).
- Stand up straight without hitting the ceiling.
- Please face the opposite direction and get into a comfortable lying position.
- Carrier Requirments
- The container needs to have two different dishes – one for water and one for food. Both containers should be empty, attached to the ground, and able to be filled without needing to open them.
- To keep your pet safe:
- Put a newspaper or blanket at the bottom of the container, but don’t use straw. This will absorb any liquid.
- Don’t tie up or cover your pet while it’s inside the container, and don’t leave the leash or container inside the cage.
- Before traveling with your pet, make sure they are not injured or weak and avoid giving them tranquilizers.
Air France Pet Policy- Cargo
If your pet is big or not a dog or cat, you can take it on a plane as cargo. Air France works with KLM and Martinair to offer pet cargo services through a joint program called Air France KLM Martinair Cargo. The area where cargo is kept on the plane has air conditioning and is checked regularly from the front of the plane to make sure your pet is comfortable during the flight.
- Pets Allowed
- Cats
- Dogs
- Ornamental fish
- Horses
- Cattle
- Insects
- Pet Age
- Pets must be 10 weeks old or older.
- They have to be trained before they can journey, whether it’s across the country or around the world.
- Pet Reservations
- You must use an Air France-KLM Cargo freight transfer company to book a spot for your pet.
- All live animals going to the United States or Canada must be cleared by one of the dealers mentioned in the links below:
- USA
- Canada
- Other experts in shipping and logistics:
- Netherlands
- France
- Forms
- You need to provide a health certificate that is not older than 10 days.
- Proof of vaccination for dogs, cats, and ferrets.
- A pet passport is needed for traveling to another country with your pet.
- The person who is sending the animals or their authorized representative must complete and sign the Shipper’s Certification for Live Animals.
- Pet Check-in. Air France Cargo Office in the place where you leave.
- Pet Weight. Animals that weigh more than 75 kilograms (165 pounds) can travel as goods.
- Breed Restrictions
- If Air France Cargo’s Live Animals Department doesn’t make an exception, the following short-nosed dog types and their hybrids won’t be accepted:
- French Bulldog
- English Bulldog
- If you have a snub-nosed dog breed, you can bring them in a container that is one size bigger than what is normally required.
- Pugs
- Boston Terrier
- Rules about how hot or cold something can be. If it’s too hot (above 85°F or 29°C) or too cold (below 10°F or -12°C) in any of the cities your pet is traveling to, they might not be allowed to go.
- Pet Carrier Requirements. See Pets as Checked Baggage under Air France’s Pet Policy.
- Good to know. Some airports, like Amsterdam and Paris, also have kennels for short-term stays.
- If Air France Cargo’s Live Animals Department doesn’t make an exception, the following short-nosed dog types and their hybrids won’t be accepted:
- Pet Carrier Requirements. See Pets as Checked Baggage under Air France’s Pet Policy.
- Good to know. Some airports, like Amsterdam and Paris, also have kennels for short-term stays.
- All live animals going to the United States or Canada must be cleared by one of the dealers mentioned in the links below:
- You must use an Air France-KLM Cargo freight transfer company to book a spot for your pet.
For More Information: Email [email protected]
Pet Ticket Fares / Fees
Here are the costs for tickets to fly with a pet in the cabin or in the hold.
- They don’t include the transfer fee you may have to pay at the airport, based on where you’re going.
- If you have a flight that connects to another, the fee will be higher.
Region | In-cabin Pets | Pets in the hold as Checked Baggage |
Flights in metropolitan France | 40 | 80 |
Flights within the Caribbean (Between Fort-de-France, Cayenne, Miami, Port-au-Prince, Pointe-à-Pitre, and Santo Domingo) | €30(to/from Miami: €55) | 75 |
Flights within EuropeFlights between Europe and Israel or North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) |
55 | 100 |
Flights between metropolitan France and Fort-de-France, Saint-Denis de la Réunion Cayenne, and Pointe-à-Pitre | 55 | 75 |
Air France Pet Policy for Guide Dogs, Service Dogs, and Psychiatric Assistance Dogs
Guide Dogs
Guide dogs are a type of support dog that has been taught to lead people who are blind or have trouble seeing. Under Air France’s pet policy, people who fly with guide dogs need to keep in mind the following:
- There is no charge for guide dogs to ride in the house.
- Passengers must let the airline know at least 48 hours ahead of time.
- The guide dog must meet all health and cleanliness standards in the countries where it leaves, arrives, and connects.
- Its leash or dog tag should show that it is a guide dog.
- The guide dog must always be harnessed and on a leash, but it doesn’t have to wear a mask.
- The guide dog must not get in the way of getting inside the plane.
- The guide dog has to be good all the time.
- Guide dogs aren’t allowed to sit down or be in any way in the way of the emergency doors.
- On trips longer than 8 hours, you may have to show that you can take care of the guide dog’s hygiene needs, especially when it needs to go to the bathroom.
- A guide-in-training who is being trained in the cabin and is at least 12 months old and traveling with their teacher will be able to ride in the cabin.
Service Dogs
Air France has the same policy for service dogs and supports dogs that don’t guide dogs as it does for guide dogs (see above).
How to Ask for a Service Dog or Assistance Dog to Be Transported
You must let Air France know by email at least 48 hours before your flight that you will be bringing a service dog or support dog into the passenger area.
Send an email with the following papers along with your request to move a service animal:
- An application form that is filled out and signed.
- A copy of the page from your dog’s passport that shows the breed, height, and weight.
- A paper from your vet saying that your dog can hold its pee for 8 hours or more, or a list of what you plan to do (nappies, medicine, etc.) to prevent this from happening during the trip.
Psychiatric Assistance Dogs
A psychiatric assistance dog (PAD) or psychiatric service dog is a type of assistance dog that has been taught to help people with a psychiatric or mental condition, such as:
- PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
- Severe depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Severe anxiety
Air France lets dogs that help people with mental illnesses fly for free in the cabin on direct and connecting trips to and from the United States, as long as they can be seen.
Air France only has the same policy for mental support dogs (PADs) as guide dogs.
- Dogs that help people with psychiatric conditions can fly in the cabin for free.
- You Must:
- Please make your reservation at least 2 days before your intended date.
- Make sure you follow the cleanliness rules of the country you are leaving, going to, or passing through.
- Make sure you have the dog’s certification with you and be ready to provide trustworthy information about it if needed.
- If you’re traveling with a dog on a flight that’s longer than 8 hours, you may need to show that you can take care of their bathroom needs.
- The dog that provides psychiatric assistance needs to:
- Always wear a harness and leash, but you don’t have to wear a muzzle when you travel.
- Wear a tag that says it’s a dog that helps with psychiatric needs.
- Always act appropriately.
- Psychiatric help should not:
- Block entry within the airplane.
- Sit in a seat or stand near the emergency exits.
Documentation Req. for Psychiatric Assistance Dogs
- Please fill out and sign this application form.
- You need a document from a mental health specialist that says you need to travel with your dog for medical reasons.
- Please provide your dog’s breed, weight, and height as listed in their passport.
- If you are traveling with a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, you will need to have a LOF certificate or a similar document.
- The vet needs to give a document saying the dog can hold its pee for 8 hours or more. If the dog can’t hold it, the vet needs to suggest ways to keep the dog clean during the trip, like using diapers or medicine.
Other Req.
- On the day you’re going to travel. Make sure to arrive at the airport one hour before the usual check-in time. if you don’t aware about this air france check-in policy you must read.
- Make sure to bring the original copies of the necessary documents with you. You will need to show them when you check in and when you reach your destination.
- You need to keep your service dog on a leash or in a harness during the trip. While you are on the airplane.
- If you have a small dog, it can sit on your lap, but you need to make sure it is wearing a harness or is on a leash all the time.
- If you have a big dog, you need to keep them on a leash or in a harness and make sure they sit by your feet.
- You need to follow the airline’s health and sanitation rules, especially if your dog needs to go to the bathroom.
- Make sure your dog doesn’t block the aisle or any other space.
Other Policies
- Ethiopian Airlines Pet Policy
- Norwegian Air Pet Policy
- United Airlines Pet Policy
- Flair Air Pet Policy
- Philippines Airlines Pet Policy
- Hawaiian Airlines Pet Policy
- Singapore Airlines Pet Policy and Charges
- Swiss International Airlines Pet Policy
- Lufthansa Airlines Pet Policy
- Qantas Airlines Pet Policy
- Copa Airlines Pet Policy
- Aeromexico Airlines Pet Policy
- Volaris Airlines Pet Policy
- Emirates Airlines Pet Policy